IMPORTANT SPEECH AT THE ANNUAL MEETING THE WELLINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3654, 31 March 1883, Page 3

IMPORTANT SPEECH AT THE ANNUAL MEETING THE WELLINGTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

AYklijngton, This day

At the annual meeting of the Chamber of Commerce yesterday the Chairman. Mr J. R. George, in moving the adoption ot the report, dwelt at considerable length on the main- subjects referred to in the report. Adverting to the bankruptcy hiAvs. ho said it Avas desirable that the facts brought out in a bankruptcy case Avhich had lately been before the public should be met in the new bill. He thought that lu-oecodintfs such as those which had been undertaken by bankrupts lately, in endeavoring to get clear from their liabilities Avhcn they avctc not justified in doing so, Avere certainly scandalous. AVhen an example of this sort Avas set by one Avho had held a high position in this colony and had also been well thought of iv Australia, what could be expected of small members of the community when they could so easily get quit of their liabilities r AVith regard to the Avorking of the licensing laws, and more especially as to the power placed in the hands of the local police constables in country districts, the Government had been communicated with, and their reply was to the effect that the Act provided that the police should carry out its provisions strictly in every respect. This was no doubt tho case, but the general impression was that favor w:is shown in some cases, while the Act Avas unnecessarily enforced in others. He ox-plained that the arguments he used on this subject at the las! meeting of the Chamber Avere not intended in any way to discuss the merit of the question as to the use of alcohol, that not being a suitable question for discussion in the Chamber. His desire was to slioav that temperance and total abstinence societies would probably succeed better in their endeavors ro suppress drunkenness if they worked to raise the status of licensed victuallers, rather than by supporting the present system of police espionage and won-}-, which was fast driving all men avlio respected themselves out of the business. As to the direct steam service, the recent arrival of the British King showed that the service Avould lie carried on by boats fully competent for the Avork, and led to the inevitable conclusion that, AVcllington must shortly become the chief distributing centre for the colony. It Avas in a more favorable position to undertake this Avork, and being the first port of arrival from England goods Avould be landed here as cheaply and promptly as in "Melbourne. It was desirable that "Wellington should be provided Avith a dock, but it would be unwise for the Harbour Board to incur any heavy expenditure until they had obtained their endowments, as the first aim of the board should be to keep all charges as low as possible, and to make AVcllington practically a free port. Referring to the banking returns of the 30th December last, Mr George said he found that the advances still showed an increase on the September quarter, the advances being for New Zealand .-£15,513,000, as against ~15,057,000 in September. The deposits on the other side showed a diminution of ..585,000, the excess of advances over deposits being £0,208,000. The advances by the banks Avere larger by about £250,000 than at any period in the history of tho colony. After referring to the imports and exports, Mr George Avent on to say that the accounts generally pointed to to the conclusion that a return above the average iv the grain harvest might be expected, and this being the case it Avas not necessarily a subject of apprehension that the imports should be heavy aud stocks large. AVith an increase of population and the opening up of the land, imports must and should increase, and only caution Avas necessary to make certain that the requirements for these purposes Avere not pushed beyond a safe limit, thus causing excessive stocks and unrcniuiierative prices. At present it seemed that the bank pressure arose from merchants having unduly forced trade. MiGeorge added that laud for agricultural or pastoral purposes Avas steadily rising in A'alue.